5 10 101 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/ee1cd8df2085c692265bf8425d47fc27.jpeg 3d72dab916297c71f2c83f8e3f6761a7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://themuslimcemetery.com/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Il_20 Location The location of the interview Homer Glen, IL Year Year the case began. 2023 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 18131 S Meader Rd, Homer Glen, IL 60491 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. H25R+9X Homer Glen, Illinois Proposed Project 40-acre Muslim cemetery with a maximum of 24,000 graves (<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://themuslimcemetery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muslim Ummah Cemetery</a>) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://orlandparkprayercenter.org/">Orland Park Prayer Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The cemetery was permitted use under the existing county rules before August 2023, when the Will County Board voted unanimously to require a special-use permit for cemetery development. This change did not apply retroactively to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2020, the Orland Park Prayer Center (OPPC), located about 40 minutes outside Chicago, purchased a 40-acre plot of land to construct the Muslim Ummah Cemetery in Homer Glen, IL. The community of nearly 30,000 Muslims, who are predominantly of Palestinian descent, had previously buried its members in a section of a mostly Christian cemetery until it ran out of space (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Kifah Mustapha, the imam at OPPC, applied for the necessary permits and licenses to purchase and develop the land, raised enough money to construct the cemetery, and hired a law firm to represent the group’s interests (ibid.). On April 27, 2023, a petition opposing the cemetery's construction began, gathering over 1,500 signatures (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Residents listed numerous concerns, including a lack of transparency, groundwater contamination, increased traffic, and environmental protection. More than 200 people, mostly critics of the proposed cemetery, attended a town hall in May to voice their opposition (ibid.). However, neither the county nor the state’s public health agencies found that the cemetery would create a credible public health concern. In response to the community opposition, Mustapha stated that “Every community had its own struggle, from the Irish to the Jewish community, to the Black and Latino community, so Muslims are no exception. But this goes against what this country is all about. We have the Constitution and laws that protect the rights of a citizen as an individual or as a community” (ibid.). Also in May, the Will County Land Use Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission began to research cemetery ordinances, as cemeteries had not been developed in unincorporated areas of Will County in more than two decades (Mullins, 2023, Aug 20). OPPC filed a permit on June 29 requesting that the Will County Land Use Department approve its use of the remaining 35 acres of the property, in addition to the 5 acres it had been granted initially (Kukulka, 2023, Jul 13). Construction of an access road leading to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery began in July (ibid.). On August 17, the Will County Board unanimously voted to require a special-use permit for cemetery development to “ensure their location minimizes any negative land use on neighbors” (Mullins, 2023, Aug 20). The ordinance change did not retroactively apply to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery, which had already received a permit to construct its cemetery, as well as road work, stormwater management, fencing, and landscaping (ibid.). The Muslim Ummah Cemetery was successfully built and has been fully operational since September 2023. More than two dozen burials have taken place, and there is enough space to accommodate 24,000 graves. Additionally, OPPC plans to expand its cemetery to include a funeral service facility that can transport, wash, and shroud bodies (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Doing so would require a zoning change and approval by the Will County Board. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abdelaziz, R. (2024, March 15). They Desperately Wanted To Build A Cemetery. Then Came The Backlash. Huffington Post. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/they-desperately-wanted-to-build-a-muslim-cemetery-then-came-the-backlash_n_65f33164e4b0dddcf7bd3501">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Kukulka, A. (2023, July 13). Will County officials say county action won’t stop construction for eco-friendly cemetery. Chicago Tribune. <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/07/13/will-county-officials-say-county-action-wont-stop-construction-underway-for-eco-friendly-cemetery/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Mullins, M. (2023, August 20). Special-use permit to be required for cemeteries. Daily Southtown. Available through <a href="https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/193877CD9AE34918&f=basic">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 16, 2004 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Homer Glen, IL Description An account of the resource In 2020, the Orland Park Prayer Center purchased a 40-acre plot of land in Homer Glen, IL, to construct the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. Local residents opposed its construction due to concerns about lack of transparency, groundwater contamination, and increased traffic. The Will County Board voted unanimously to require a special-use permit for cemetery development, which did not apply retroactively to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. The cemetery successfully opened in September 2023. The Muslim community intends to construct a funeral service facility in the future. Approved Built Cemetery Legislation Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/f231b64280ee5e3dac77c28a3090c314.png bde96bedb45b1a3a040c90ddc701e22d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ms_03 Location The location of the interview Horn Lake, MS Year Year the case began. 2021 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 4600 Church Rd, Horn Lake, MS 38637 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. WWMH+9R Horn Lake, Mississippi Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Administrative Denial Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications In February 2021, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny the permit for the proposed mosque. The Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 in April to uphold this decision, citing insufficient water mains for fire sprinklers, potential violations of noise ordinances, and increased traffic. Following a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Muslim community, a consent decree from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi ordered the approval of construction of the mosque. In September 2022, the Planning Commission voted 4-3 to allow the construction of the cemetery on the same property as the mosque. Despite concerns about soil contamination and discrimination against women, the Board of Aldermen unanimously voted in October to approve the conditional use permit for the cemetery with restrictions. Proposed Project The Muslim community proposed subdividing the 80-acre property for residential development (Turkey Creek Subdivision) and for a cemetery/mosque project. The mosque's site plan envisioned a 10,000-square-foot building with 44 parking spaces for 156 worshipers. The 1.2-acre cemetery would accommodate up to 520 burials. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.abrahamhouseofgod.com/">Abraham House of God</a> Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2019, DeSoto County resident Ray Elk met with the mayor of Horn Lake, MS, and the Board of Aldermen to propose the construction of the Abraham House of God, a 10,000-square-foot mosque on 80 acres of land with a 156-person worship room and 44 parking spaces. Northern Mississippi did not have a mosque, which meant the approximately 15 Muslim families living in DeSoto County needed to travel more than 30 minutes to the nearest mosque, located in Tennessee. (Weaver, 2021, Nov 3). In August 2020, local residents expressed anti-Muslim sentiments at a meeting of the city’s Planning Commission (Randall, 2022, Jan 4). Their opposition towards the proposed mosque continued at another Planning Commission meeting in February 2021, where they voiced their concerns about increased traffic and potential violations of noise ordinances, despite repeated assertions that the mosque would not contain loudspeakers issuing calls to prayer (Burgess, 2021, Apr 22). The Planning Commission unanimously denied Elk’s application for permits to construct the mosque. Though houses of worship are permitted by right on land zoned Agricultural Residential (AR) in Horn Lake, they still require site plan approval from the Planning Commission. In April 2021, the Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to deny approval of the site plan, citing concerns over insufficient water mains for fire sprinklers, potential violations of noise ordinances, and increased traffic (Burgess, 2021, Apr 22). Elk announced that he planned to sue the city over its decision, stating that “this is what my country was built on, freedom of religion. I am just practicing my right. This is my right to have any faith I want” (ibid.). The next month, Horn Lake Mayor Allen Latimer held an executive session behind closed doors with the Board of Aldermen to discuss the proposed mosque and impending lawsuit (Masse, 2021, May 5). Alderman Charlie Roberts changed his mind, expressing support for the mosque. “If we can have Baptist churches, Methodist churches, Pentecostal churches on every corner and have the freedom to religion, we also should be able to allow our Islamic Muslim friends to have the same worship,” Roberts said at the meeting. “I support the freedom of religion, and I will stand behind the freedom of religion for everybody” (Marion, 2021, May 19). In November 2021, the ACLU of Mississippi and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Horn Lake, claiming that their denial of the proposed mosque violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the First Amendment (Weaver, 2021, Nov 3). On November 18, it was reported that the city and Elk were working to settle the lawsuit (Dees, 2021, Nov 18). On January 3, 2022, Judge Michael P. Mills of the Northern District of Mississippi issued a consent decree ordering Horn Lake officials to approve the mosque (Chaney, 2022, Jan 4). Mills found that the denial of the proposed mosque violated RLUIPA and the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause, stating that the case “presents very serious, and if proven factually accurate, strong allegations of religious discrimination” (Randall, 2022, Jan 4). It was reported that both parties agreed to the consent decree “in the interest of avoiding costly and protracted litigation” (ibid.). The city was ordered to approve a plan for the mosque’s construction within 14 days, act quickly in the future to address building-related matters like permitting, and pay $25,000 for expenses related to appealing the denial. City officials, employees, and insurers were released from any further monetary claims for damages, and the federal district court maintained jurisdiction over the case for five years to ensure the consent decree was enforced (ibid.). In April 2022, Elk met with the city’s Planning Commission to propose the construction of a 1.2-acre Muslim cemetery on the same property as the mosque. The plan was tabled until September 26, when the Planning Commission voted 4-3 to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) with restrictions (Randall, 2022, Oct 14). Members of the Planning Commission stated that Horn Lake had never approved a cemetery in its history and shared their concerns regarding soil contamination and discrimination against women, as comparisons were made to the Dar ar-Rahma Cemetery in Tennessee, which does not allow women to attend burial services (ibid.). In response, Elk stated that he was unfamiliar with that rule. One of the conditions attached to the permit was that no discrimination would be allowed against women, in addition to other restrictions regarding the cemetery’s rules and guidelines, timeline of its construction, and future expansion process (ibid.). Addressing a query from Planning Commissioner Little regarding the cemetery's public or private nature, Elk offered to dedicate an area for non-Muslims to be buried, similar to how Christian cemeteries have sections for Muslim burials, highlighting inclusivity and accommodation within the community cemetery project (ibid.). In October 2022, the Board of Aldermen met to discuss the cemetery’s conditional use request (Bakken, 2022, Oct 18). They voted unanimously, 7-0, to approve the CUP with five conditions: planting a mix of trees and plants along the perimeter to absorb any microorganisms, constructing the cemetery in the approved soil types identified in the state soil report, following the city’s subdivision regulations if the property is subdivided at a later date, ensuring there is at least one yard of subsoil at the bottom of all burial sites to protect against groundwater contamination, and going through the approval process if the site is expanded (ibid.). Additional Planning Commission conditions were not included, as they related to the cemetery's operation and not its actual zoning. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Abraham House of God on October 23, 2022. The mosque was expected to take about a year to build (Bakken, 2022, Oct 18). Construction does not appear to have finished, as the mosque’s website states it is coming soon. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Bakken, B. (2022, October 18). Mosque cemetery plan gets Horn Lake board approval. DeSoto County News. <a href="https://desotocountynews.com/desoto-county-news/mosque-cemetery-plan-gets-horn-lake-board-approval/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Burgess, K. (2021, April 22). Horn Lake rejects application for mosque; applicant may take city to court. The Commercial Appeal. <a href="https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2021/04/22/horn-lake-rejects-mosque-applicant/7335507002/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Chaney, K. (2022, January 4). Horn Lake ordered to approve plans for first-ever mosque in Desoto County, Mississippi. Localmemphis.com. <a href="https://www.localmemphis.com/article/life/faith/horn-lake-ordered-approval-mosque-desoto-county-mississippi-federal-judge/522-69bc4455-fefa-4d03-97a8-a55c3ee80e66">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Dees, T. (2021, November 18). City of Horn Lake working to settle lawsuit over proposed mosque. FOX13 Memphis. <a href="https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/city-of-horn-lake-working-to-settle-lawsuit-over-proposed-mosque/article_0ca776a2-a713-5ed3-b941-b8931f0747c4.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Marion, G. (2021, May 19). “Stop It Before They Get Here”: Horn Lake Repeatedly Denies Mosque Permit. Mississippi Free Press. <a href="https://www.mississippifreepress.org/stop-it-before-they-get-here-horn-lake-repeatedly-denies-mosque-permit/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Masse, J. (2021, May 5). Horn Lake officials discuss proposed mosque as lawsuit looms. FOX13 Memphis. <a href="https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/horn-lake-officials-discuss-proposed-mosque-as-lawsuit-looms/article_44e235ce-eb9c-53fc-825a-79a2e1d013cf.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Randall, M. (2022, January 4). Federal court orders Horn Lake to approve mosque. DeSoto Times-Tribune. <a href="https://www.desototimes.com/news/federal-court-orders-horn-lake-to-approve-mosque/article_3bc5cf16-6d81-11ec-ac43-77bd6d34a3da.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Randall, M. (2022, October 14). Horn Lake to consider Muslim cemetery request. DeSoto Times-Tribune. <a href="https://www.desototimes.com/news/horn-lake-to-consider-muslim-cemetery-request/article_653ef044-4be2-11ed-8889-ab6423a9da63.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Weaver, H. (2021, November 3). A Mississippi City Blocked a Proposed Mosque Due to Anti-Muslim Prejudice. We’re Suing. American Civil Liberties Union. <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/religious-liberty/a-mississippi-city-blocked-a-proposed-mosque-due-to-anti-muslim-prejudice-were-suing">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 20, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Horn Lake, MS Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Concept art for planned Abraham House of God in Horn Lake. (2021). [Online image]. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2021/04/22/horn-lake-rejects-mosque-applicant/7335507002. Description An account of the resource In April 2021, Horn Lake city officials rejected a proposed mosque on property zoned for houses of worship. The ACLU of Mississippi and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP filed an RLUIPA lawsuit on behalf of the Muslim community in November 2021. In January 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi issued a consent decree to approve the construction of the Abraham House of God, DeSoto County’s first mosque. Later that year, the Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to allow the construction of a Muslim cemetery on the same property, despite opposition by local residents. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang ACLU Approved (initial denial) Cemetery DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Mosque Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/e44574b78a61de776d9c01bd9afdedc8.png d979de7ab7cbec23d24d45c38c665a3a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource The Muslim American Society's Katy Islamic Center marked its opening June 13 with a ribbon-cutting celebration at 1800 Baker Road. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/MAS-Islamic-Center-largest-mosque-in-Katy-to-6323464.php Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Texas Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. TX_01 Location The location of the interview Katy, TX Year Year the case began. 2006 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1800 Baker Road, Houston, TX 77094 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. Q76W+C8 Windsor Park Estates, Texas Proposed Project mosque and community center on 11-acre property in Katy, TX Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Katy Islamic Association (KIA) Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The Katy Islamic Association (KIA) acquired an 11-acre property at 1800 Baker Rd in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood in Katy, located on the outskirts of Houston, TX. The association purchased the property for $1.1 million, intending to construct a mosque to serve the local community, which includes approximately 500 Muslim families. The planned complex was to feature a mosque, school, community center, and activity space, with potential future expansions including a health clinic and elderly living center. Public opinion regarding the Islamic Center was divided, with some expressing support and others voicing strong opposition. One adjacent property owner alleged that representatives of the Islamic Center insulted him, leading him to retaliate by holding weekly pig races during the Center’s prayer times. Despite the controversy, the Katy Islamic Association obtained the necessary building permits from local authorities and officially opened the mosque on June 13, 2015. The land acquisition for the Islamic Center in Katy quickly sparked opposition among local residents. One individual created a website with a domain name similar to that of the Katy Islamic Association, which included a tally of terrorist activities post-September 11, 2001, and disseminated misinformation about the Association and its planned mosque. A group called PLANK (Preserving the Lifestyles and Neighborhoods of Katy) emerged to articulate concerns that the mosque would lead to increased traffic, flooding, light and noise pollution, and a decline in property values. Additionally, some community members questioned potential ties between KIA and extremist groups, expressing safety concerns. Nonetheless, other residents defended KIA, apologizing for the community's opposition. Particularly notable was the reaction of neighbor Craig Baker, who, after a disagreement with an Islamic Center representative, relocated his pig pens adjacent to the Center's property and initiated weekly pig racing events on Fridays (Stanley, 2006, Dec 4). In response to these tensions, the Katy Islamic Association undertook significant efforts to address community concerns and foster harmony. They organized outreach events, inviting local residents to engage with the Center’s leadership and learn more about their mission. During these meetings, they addressed various concerns, such as adjusting the angle of floodlights that were disturbing a neighbor's sleep and removing the mosque’s gold dome from the architectural plans to accommodate aesthetic preferences (Miakti, 2019, March 12). Support from local Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim religious leaders further bolstered interfaith dialogue and unity (Eriksen, 2007, Jan 17). After sufficient fundraising and obtaining the necessary permits, KIA commenced construction of the Katy Islamic Center, which opened on June 6, 2015. By 2019, leaders from the Islamic Center reported significant improvements in community relations, highlighted by the strong support they received following a shooting incident at the mosque in January 2019 (Miakti, 2019, March 12). References <ul> <li>Eriksen, H. (2007, January 17). Interfaith group promotes tolerance in forumsKaty pig races near mosque site sparked meetings. Houston Chronicle (TX), p. 4. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/116BB5D156553D48">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Mikati, M. (2019, March 12). Years after pig races, support for Katy mosque shows improved relations with community. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Years-after-pig-races-support-for-Katy-mosque-13680419.php">https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Years-after-pig-races-support-for-Katy-mosque-13680419.php</a>. </li> <li>Stanley, T. (2006, December 4). Baker Rd. residents take up sides on proposed mosque. Katy Times. Retrieved from <a href="http://katytimes.com/news/article_55c01a9d-cd4d-5729-b502-decd5b297d6e.html">http://katytimes.com/news/article_55c01a9d-cd4d-5729-b502-decd5b297d6e.html</a>. </li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. May 25, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Katy, TX Description An account of the resource The Katy Islamic Association (KIA) purchased an 11-acre property in Katy, TX, to build a mosque and community center, encountering mixed public reactions. Some locals opposed the project, citing concerns over traffic, property values, and potential extremist ties, while others supported KIA. Neighbor Craig Baker's hostile response included weekly pig races. KIA addressed community concerns through outreach events and adjustments to their plans, receiving support from interfaith leaders. The mosque opened in June 2015, and by 2019, community relations had improved significantly, as evidenced by local support after a shooting incident at the mosque. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Bryce Bentinck Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Built Islamic Center Public Campaign Purpose-Built https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/88a8b93da67aef0d007341e0931954e8.jpg 7b9ca8fafb588e967c5ffcda18e3c476 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Georgia Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ga_06 Location The location of the interview Kennesaw, Cobb County, GA Date November 2014-April 2015 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. A Muslim community from Kennesaw, Ga, intends to convert a space in a strip mall into a storefront masjid after realizing that the distance of other masjids make attending congregational Jummah (Friday) prayers inaccessible to many of those with commitments. Upon proposing this plan to the Kennesaw City Council, they are asked to attend a public hearing. This is unprecedented, as a strip mall Pentecostal church was recently approved without a hearing. Regardless, the masjid’s board members agree. Although this is intended to be a board meeting to discuss zoning concerns, it is clear that oppositions fueled with Islamophobia take the stage. An amended version of the masjid’s motion is denied 2-3; the original plan is then revisited, yet once again denied 4-1. Two weeks later, after media attention at the local and national levels, the original motion is approved unanimously. The masjid’s board members (with the assistance of the Department of Justice) file a successful lawsuit to avoid any denial or discrimination in the future. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 2750 Jiles Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 29FG+R8 Kennesaw, Georgia Proposed Project 2200 sq. ft space in a strip mall, with two separate entrances for men and women; occupancy of maximum 150 people; expected amount for daily prayers is 10-20; 60-80 at peak Friday times; appropriate amount of parking spaces Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Masjid Suffah Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Local ordinance (public protest), zoning dispute Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Denied, then approved Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Masjid Board Members Create Proposal For members of the Kennesaw’s Muslim community, the closest masjid that they could attend was about a 30-minute drive. This meant an hour for commute alone, not including unanticipated traffic flow, in addition to the prayer service which lasts roughly another hour. For those in the community with workplace commitments or childcare obstacles, this meant missing what is considered the most important prayer in Islam: Jummah prayers. Jummah prayers are congregational prayers that take place on Fridays, in the way that Christians come together on Sundays. However, inaccessibility unfortunately made Kennesaw’s Muslim residents miss Jummah prayer. Five members of the community realized that they could seize the opportunity to establish a masjid in Kennesaw to make it easier for Muslim residents to attend congregational prayers (personal communication, March 1, 2019). They found a suitable space in a strip mall alongside other small businesses to convert into a storefront mosque. Petition to City Council for Temporary Use Permit Issues surrounding the permitting process for Masjid Suffah were numerous. Starting with meetings between Masjid officials and city councilmembers in early November and progressing through a city council meeting on November 17, the acceptance of the application was dragged out. The process had no precedent. Space in a similar shopping center had been let out to a Pentecostal Church less than six months prior (Brangham 2014, Dec 20). The board members of the masjid attended the city council meeting on November 17 during which public comment was invited. The board members remember the majority of queries at the meeting were about Islam and not about zoning issues (personal conversation, March 1, 2019). The city council decided the table the issue for two weeks until the next regularly scheduled meeting on December 1 and asked the applicants to have information meetings (public hearing) with their neighbors in the interim. During the follow-up meeting of the city council on December 1st, the attorney acting on behalf of the city, Randall Bentley, asked the masjid if they were willing to agree to several stipulations, including a maximum Land Use permit of 24 months, a cap on the number of attendants and parking spaces, and a promise not to challenge the city legally under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which protects religious buildings like Masjid Suffah from discrimination under zoning and landmarking laws. The masjid agreed, and this amended motion was proposed by Councilmember Welsh and seconded by Council member Killingsworth. It failed by a 2-3 margin, with only Welsh and Killingsworth in support. The motion to retain the original plans for the masjid construction was then voted on and failed 4-1, with only Councilmember Welsh in favor. Councilmember Welsh, the only initial “yes” vote and herself a devout Catholic, reported that after her “yes” vote, her private information, including her home address, Facebook, and pictures of her children had been released on a hate site. Despite “being rattled” by the negative attention, hate, and threats from her constituents (Brangham 2014, Dec 20). Reversal of City Council Vote and Lawsuit Exactly two weeks from the first vote, the original motion was passed unanimously, although not without significant difficulty. The threat of a lawsuit from the masjid and the potential involvement of a federal judge put significant pressure on the Council to rectify its actions. The additional fact of masjid officials being in contact with the Department of Justice, even unofficially, made it extremely politically fraught for the Council not to allow construction. Following the reversal, the masjid decided to sue the City Council to prevent further action from being taken against the masjid. Dillard, an attorney who has previously won similar cases in Alpharetta and Marietta, known as a religious freedom expert, submitted the filing on December 30th (Klepal 2015, Jan 1). Public Protest Some of the key issues community members brought up in the initial City Council Meeting on November 17, 2014, explored the idea of traffic congestion, availability of parking, community and business disturbances, and the masjid’s effects on the commercial activities at the shopping center. David Nicholas, a community member, argued, “It is a retail space and compatibility may be an issue. Section e-6 addresses adequate parking and 60-80 people will attend but will be there at various times during the day. If there are 127 parking spaces, that many people will be more than half of the available parking. Growth does not seem limited” (Kennesaw City Council Hearing, Nov 17, 2014, p.11). Maria Nicholas, the wife of David Nicholas, also addressed the issue of public disturbances that could be seen within areas like nursing homes. She posed questions regarding noise levels from traffic and the mosque itself that could be a potential hazard to the elderly (ibid.). Owners of several stores pondered the question of what the mosque would or would not bring to their businesses and the possibility. In response to the issues raised at the meeting, Attorney Dillard argued for the leasing of the permit due to the fact that zoning cannot be denied over the fear of traffic and anticipated parking issues (ibid.). Several questions about the type of religious practice at the proposed masjid were voiced at the city council meeting on November 17 but resurfaced with greater intensity at the mandated public hearing Monday, November 24 (Galloway 2014, Dec 5). The subsequent city council meeting on December 1 did not allow public comment but protesters gathered outside city hall before the session with signs reading “Ban Islam,” and “Islam wants no peace.” Protesters also held American flags as well as the old Georgia state flag that includes the Confederate battle flag. Some protester openly carried firearms (ibid.) Aftermath The masjid’s journey extended far past issues of zoning and local xenophobia. Media attention at the local and national levels propelled this case into discussions of religious freedom and the true impact of the First Amendment. Reporting done by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Huffington Post, and PBS highlighted the importance of the Kennesaw case after a long battle against not only the city council but also against protestors from the Kennesaw area as well from areas farther away. After a difficult beginning, the mosque is now successful and has brought together the Muslim community of Kennesaw in even greater ways. Since the issues with city council, Masjid Suffah opened up the storefront mosque and members are currently finishing up interior development. They regularly hold daily worship sessions, including the Friday prayers. Other activities at the masjid include meals to mark the end of Ramadan fasting and donations to surrounding underserved communities. Building a Permanent Space Members of this masjid have initiated plans to build a large, permanent multi-purpose space of 3.5 acres and 200 parking spaces for both regular worship and for children to play. Zoning and budget affairs have already been worked out and architecture plans have been submitted to the city council. The project is also privately funded, making it difficult to predict when it will be completed. Masjd Suffah continues to face some of the same obstacles with parking concerns from residents and permit issues delaying construction. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. Local: Selby, Emily (2016, July 05). Kennesaw mosque thriving after bumpy beginning. Marietta Daily Journal. Web. Regional <ul> <li>Galloway, Jim (2014, December 3). Behind Kennesaw's rejection of a storefront mosque. The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Web.</li> <li>Klepal, Dan (2014, December 31). Federal lawsuit filed as precaution over Kennesaw mosque. The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Web.</li> </ul> National <ul> <li>Brangham, William (2014, December 20). Freedom of religion? Mosque debate in Georgia town reveals sharp divide. PBS News Hour Weekend. Web.</li> <li>Shahshahani, Azadeh (2015, March 11). Mosque Controversy in Georgia. Huffington Post. Web.</li> </ul> Local Government Documents <ul> <li>City of Kennesaw (2014, November 17). Minutes of Mayor & City Council Meeting. City of Kennesaw. Web.</li> <li>City of Kennesaw (2014, December 1). Minutes of Mayor & City Council Meeting. City of Kennesaw. Web.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. August 23, 2019 Year Year the case began. 2014 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Kennesaw, GA Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. GA_06, occurring in Kennesaw, GA. 30144 in Cobb County from November 2014 to April 2015 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Fardowsa Ahmed, Neha Ali, Rukmini Kalamangalam, Em Persaud, and Ninika Osuji Approved Built DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Mosque Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/041826c06b3b79f5109c1febefc80c61.png 2b12da41c6e2aff8b36a3a07f9bbc717 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Id_01 Location The location of the interview Kuna, ID Year Year the case began. 2014 Proposed Project The ICBB applied to build a 10-acre cemetery for about 6,000 burial plots on 36 acres of land outside of Kuta, ID. An on-site mosque was considered as part of a separate future application. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 15000 Cloverdale Rd, Kuna, ID Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/icbboise/?ref=page_internal">Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Boise</a> Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications County Commissioners vote to deny opponents’ appeal at a public hearing on September 10, 2014, but impose minor conditions for the project to move forward. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2014, the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Boise (ICBB) submitted a proposal to use 10 acres of land for a cemetery outside of Kuta, ID. At the time, the ICBB served approximately 380-400 families from across the valley. The project was spearheaded by Imam Midhat Smajic, who pointed to the need of his growing community to bury loved ones according to Muslim burial practices. For several years, the community had buried their deceased in a separate section of the Morris Hill Cemetery, a government-funded cemetery complex in Boise. The ICBB’s proposal affirmed that their Islamic burial practices would comply with Idaho’s regulations governing cemeteries (Muslim cemetery proposed, 2014, Sep 1). Smajic and other members of the ICBB worked with the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission to approve their cemetery plans. The proposed cemetery site was zoned for conditional use as a cemetery and did not require any special exceptions or variances. Thus, the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved it. Following this, a resident appealed the decision to the County Commission, expressing concerns about potential ground contamination and the spread of disease. The resident also stated that the cemetery’s visual or aesthetic impact would negatively affect property values. A public hearing was scheduled to discuss the appeal. “Any time you're dealing with religious items, there's a lot of passion that goes with that too," said Dave Case, Chairman of the Ada County Commission. "That tends to bring out a lot of people who want to provide their testimony and want to be heard, and that's what the whole process is about" (Zepelin, 2014, Sep 10). During their public meeting on September 10, the Ada County Commissioners voted to deny the appeal but imposed minor conditions on the cemetery project. Despite the approval amid public opposition, no information is currently available regarding the completion or operational status of the cemetery project. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Muslim cemetery proposed for Kuna creates stir. (2014, September 1). Idaho Press-Tribune (Nampa, ID), p. 4. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1501109D0E8C9C00">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Zepelin, S. (2014, September 10). Plans move forward for Muslim cemetery near Kuna. NBC - 7 KTVB (Boise, ID). Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15045A8A06098840">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Kuna, ID Description An account of the resource In 2014, the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission issues a conditional use permit (CUP) for an Islamic cemetery near Kuna. The Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Boise wants to use parts of a 36-acre lot as a burial ground. The property is already zoned for conditional use as a cemetery. Kuna residents appeal the decision to the County Commission, stating health concerns. County Commissioners deny the appeal at a public hearing but impose minor conditions for the project to proceed. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sofia Fonti Approved Cemetery Public Campaign Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Texas Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lake Travis, TX https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/b583aa74b0b0d6687b7e01fb452cb357.jpeg 4871ebd19ad48b4dcc75e15fc300a029 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived http://www.lvislamiccemetery.org/photo-gallery/picture13/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Nv_01 Location The location of the interview Las Vegas, NV Year Year the case began. 2015 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 7620 Bermuda Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89123 Proposed Project private, nonprofit cemetery on two acres of land Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Islamic Foundation of Nevada Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved, with conditions Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. As the Muslim population in Las Vegas grew steadily, there arose a need to develop a community and its accompanying infrastructure to support this expansion. Dr. Osama Haikal, a longstanding resident of Las Vegas, played a pivotal role in this endeavor by founding the <a href="https://lvislamicacademy.org/ohia-mission/">Omar Haikal Islamic Academy</a> and the <a href="https://omarhaikalmasjid.com/">Omar Haikal Masjid</a>, named after his father. Dr. Haikal also spearheaded a cemetery project located near the Masjid and Academy. This project was approved by the Clark County Board of Commissioners, including Steve Sisolak, who would later become the governor of Nevada. In early 2015, Dr. Osama Haikal sought a special-use permit to build a cemetery on his property. The Clark County staff endorsed his application for approval. Following this, the Town Board convened and reiterated its support for approval. The matter then proceeded to the Clark County Planning Commission, which recommended approval with certain conditions (Sisolak, 2015, Apr 2015). Following approval—with about a dozen conditions—by the County’s Planning Commission in early 2015, some residents appealed to the Board of Commissioners with concerns over possible flooding, water contamination, and impact on property values (Lopardi, 2015, Mar 18). In March 2015, County commissioners unanimously approved the cemetery project. However, Haikal agreed to implement several additional improvements and conditions for the project to address neighbors' concerns. These included a taller wall, increased landscaping, and specific operational hours to avoid burials during dark hours or high traffic, such as when students arrive or leave nearby schools (Brean, 2015, Mar 18). Additional conditions required that the cemetery have no signage, a modest funeral home resembling a small house, and flat graves marked with simple ground-level plaques. While no caskets would be used, bodies buried at the cemetery would be enclosed in concrete vaults (ibid.). After a protracted struggle spanning several months, the cemetery was eventually authorized and opened, signifying a noteworthy accomplishment for the neighborhood. The cemetery's successful construction is a significant step toward building the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the local Muslim community’s expanding population. <a href="http://www.lvislamiccemetery.org/">Las Vegas Islamic Cemetery</a> is running alongside the Haikal Islamic Academy and Masjid. One review online discusses the cemetery and how it is well-run. References <ul> <li>Brean, H. (2015, March 18). Valley’s first Islamic cemetery approved over neighborhood opposition. Las Vegas Review-Journal. <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/valleys-first-islamic-cemetery-approved-over-neighborhood-opposition/">Web</a>.</li> <li>Lopardi, M. (2015, March 18). Action News at 5PM. ABC - 13 KTNV (Las Vegas, NV). Available at <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F154293F3C887D680.">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Sisolak, S. (2015, April 7). Letters: Cemetery approved on legal merits. Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV), p. B008. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1548E0DF3213DAD0">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, and Lauren Yee Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Las Vegas, NV Description An account of the resource Dr. Osama Haikal played a crucial role in addressing the growing Muslim population in Las Vegas by establishing the Omar Haikal Islamic Academy, Omar Haikal Masjid, and a cemetery project near the Masjid. In early 2015, he sought approval for the cemetery, facing initial concerns over flooding and property values. After modifications like a taller wall and specific operational hours, the project gained unanimous approval from County commissioners. The Las Vegas Islamic Cemetery's successful completion reflects community progress and indicates efforts to accommodate the expanding Muslim population alongside essential infrastructure like the Haikal Islamic Academy and Masjid. Approved Built Cemetery Public Campaign REL230_SP24 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/e541712c73649a9bf00820ae10e1e617.jpg e3211f5a1b9761dbbbcaab8e09273f3f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource test Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Cae No. GA_04 Location The location of the interview Lilburn, GA Date November 2009-August 2011 A documented account of Case No. GA_04, occurring in Lilburn, GA. 30047 between November 2009 and August 2011 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. "The congregation sought permission to expand two buildings into a 20,000-square-foot complex with a mosque, gym and cemetery. The Lilburn City Council rejected this proposal in November 2009 and a scaled-down proposal in December 2010. After the U.S. Department of Justice threatened to sue Lilburn, alleging religious discrimination, the city approved a modified proposal in August 2011" (Liu 2012). Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 5064 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, GA 30047 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. VVQ2+HJ Lilburn, Georgia Proposed Project A 7.9 acre expansion on a lot owned by the Dar-E-Abbas Islamic Shi’a Center to develop a larger mosque, athletic facility, and cemetery. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Dar-E-Abbas Islamic Shi’a Center. The community was established in 1998 and consists primarily of south Asian immigrants and their families. In 2009, the congregation size was approximately 250 members. Coordinates Enter the coordinates for the location, if they are available. 33°54'35.0"N 84°08'52.0"W Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Zoning ordinances and Federal Discrimination Lawsuits Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Delayed, partially approved Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. On November 10th, 2009, in the city of Lilburn, Georgia, a proposal was made by the Dar-e ‘Abbas Islamic Shia Center to expand its mosque. In the initial proposal, the Dar-e ‘Abbas wanted to purchase 7.9 acres adjacent to their original property; this was rejected on November 18, 2009, by the city of Lilburn, as the mosque’s land would violate zoning regulation due to its size. In 2010, a second proposal was made by Dar-e ‘Abbas, in which the mosque followed all the zoning requirements (Bernarde 2011, Aug 16). However, the community of Lilburn voiced their disapproval on the basis that even though it followed the zoning requirements, the expansion of the mosque would foment traffic and occupy parking spaces in the area. Based primarily on this public outcry, the City Council of Lilburn rejected the second proposal in December of 2010, though the proposal followed all the zoning requirements. This was followed by a lawsuit from the Dar-e ’Abbas Center and a complaint from the Department of Justice saying rejecting it was unconstitutional and religiously discriminatory. In August of 2011, a third proposal was made and the council voted 3-1 to approve it (Anderson 2012, Aug 10). Dar-e ‘Abbas Islamic Shi’a Center Community In Lilburn, the Shi’a Community began as a group of a few families during the Reagan era, but it grew considerably in the 1990s and 2000s, coming from India, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The Shi’a community in Lilburn consists mainly of the Dar-e ‘Abbas congregation as a religious and cultural community that retains much of the Muslim religious tradition, as well as continued propagation and teaching of Islam, as exemplified by ‘DAISY’ (Dar-e ‘Abbas Islamic School for Youth), where kids are encouraged to attend Islamic school every Saturday. First Proposal The first proposal to construct Dar-e ‘Abbas Islamic Shi’a Center began in 2009 and was rejected on the grounds that the religious center occupied more land than county residential zoning laws would permit. Ironically, Lilburn city government had previously blocked a proposed expansion of another Muslim community by mandating that religious centers occupy over 5 acres of land when commercially zoned after they learned of these development plans in 2003 (Holder 2011). The Dar-e ‘Abbas Islamic Shi’a Center’s first proposal was made in efforts to expand upon a preexisting mosque that had become too small to fit its 250 member congregation (Beasley 2009, Dec 17). On November 18 of 2009, the Shi’a community’s proposal to build a mosque, cemetery, and athletic facility on 7.9 acres adjacent to their preexisting mosque was rejected by the city council. The multipurpose facility violated a zoning requirement that mandated that religious institutions could not occupy a space of over five acres, which did not exist during the mosque’s original construction eleven years earlier (Beasley 2009, Dec 17). Thus the proposal was unanimously rejected by the city council (Bernarde 2011, Aug 16). The community filed a Federal Discrimination Lawsuit (Case No. 1:09-CV-3549-TWT) against the city of Lilburn, as they felt that this zoning restriction limited their religious freedom and showed favoritism for secular community centers, which could exceed five acres in size (Beasley 2009, Dec 17). The city of Lilburn presumably successfully defended against the lawsuit, as neither side commented on the case after 2010 and no reparations were ordered by the district court (Bernarde 2011, Aug 16). Additionally, the city held a community vote to decide to permit religious institutions to develop on land larger than five acres that the residents of Lilburn rejected (Beasley 2009, Dec 17). The plans for the Dar-e ‘Abbas Islamic Shi’a Center were then adjusted to comply with zoning regulations. Second Proposal In order to accommodate the zoning regulations, plans for Dar-e ‘Abbas Islamic Shi’a Center were scaled back not to include the cemetery and gymnasium of their original proposal in a space of 4 acres. Though the mosque’s proposal was within the guidelines of the zoning, on December 6, 2010 the Lilburn Planning Commission stated that the Mosques 20,000 square foot area worship space and 200 car parking garage would cause traffic and safety concerns (Bernarde 2011, Aug 16). Additionally, with the possibility of the mosque’s construction, citizens of Lilburn began to speak out against the mosque’s construction (Anderson 2012, Aug 10). The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that city council members were receiving emails with complaints “ranging from thoughtful ruminations on the zoning implications to concerns that Islamic terrorists were going to destroy the city” (Anderson 2012, Aug 10). The city council voted in December of 2010 to on the mosque’s second proposal, which resulted in a 2-2 decision to pass the proposal (Bernarde 2011, Aug 16). Since a majority was needed to commence with the construction, the mosque’s efforts to pass a proposal were further delayed until 2011 despite the compromises the community made on the plans and adherence to zoning ordinances. DOJ Intervention On August 26, 2011, the United States Department of Justice filed a formal complaint against the city of Lilburn, Georgia (Case No. 1:11-mi-99999-UNA). The eleven-paged official document first recounted the previously described proposals and subsequent rejections. The complaint was filed for two main reasons: unfair treatment of the mosque, and lack of measures to ensure adherence to the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. In the twenty-seventh clause of the document, the Department of Justice notes the numerous Christian churches the City of Lilburn had approved for rezoning. They note, however, that although similarly planned and formatted, the Dar-e ‘Abbas Islamic Center was not treated in a similar manner. This lead the Department of Justice to formally accuse the City of Lilburn of discrimination on the basis of religion. Additionally, the Department of Justice noted in the twenty-eighth clause of the document, that there were no procedures or practices in place to ensure that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 was not violated (Holder 2011). Third Proposal and Outcome Following the Department of Justice’s intervention, the plan for the Islamic center proposed in December of 2010 was approved. A founding member of the community, Wasi Zaidi, commented, "our neighbors might be mad now, but we love them" (Fox News 2011) After seven years of fundraising, more issues arose. A proposed expansion of the parking lot part of the 2011 proposal, which would add 178 spots, sparked further debate and disagreement amongst residents of Lilburn in 2018 when the construction was finally set to begin. The Islamic Center proposed the extra 178 spots would prevent members of the community from having to park in nearby parks and lots. Lilburn resident Donna Chapman, however, brought up the issue of traffic. “Say, if we needed the police or the firemen and traffic’s in the way, they couldn’t get here,” said Chapman, in a 2018 interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Coyne 2018, Nov 15). References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. Local Coverage: Bernarde, Scott (2011, August 16). A Timeline Look at the Mosque Issue. Stone Mountain-Lithonia, GA Patch. Retrieved from https://patch.com/georgia/lilburn/a-timeline-look-at-the-mosque-issue Regional Coverage <ul> <li>Beasley, David (2009, December 17). Muslim Congregation Sues Over Lilburn Mosque. Global Atlanta. Retrieved from https://www.globalatlanta.com/muslim-congregation-sues-over-lilburn-mosque</li> <li>Anderson, Joel (2012, August 10). Mosque Dispute Divides Lilburn. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved from https://www.ajc.com/news/local/mosque-dispute-divides-lilburn/LvPOrdHdYiGajVPKkkaL8M</li> <li>Coyne, Amanda C. (2018, November 15). Lilburn Residents Object to Mosque Expansion at City Council Meeting. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved from https://www.ajc.com/news/local/lilburn-residents-object-mosque-expansion-city-council-meeting/xQmOmIc8y73kAHf64myx7O</li> </ul> National Coverage <ul> <li>Esterl, Mike (2011, August 17). Georgia mosque wins approval. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111903480904576513171323195258</li> <li>Fox News (2011, August 17). Controversial Georgia Mosque Wins Approval. Fox News. Retrieved from https://www.foxnews.com/us/controversial-georgia-mosque-wins-approval.</li> </ul> Additional Sources <ul> <li>Liu, J. (2012). Controversies over Mosques and Islamic Centers across the U.S. Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life. Web.</li> <li>Holder, Eric H. (2011, August 11). United States of America v. City of Lilburn, Georgia. United States Department of Justice.</li> <li>Museum of History and Holocaust Education (n.d.). Community Histories. Understanding Islam in a Cross-Cultural Context. Retrieved from marb.kennesaw.edu/identities/exhibits/show/histories/atlanta-muslim-community</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. April 23, 2019 Year Year the case began. 2009 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource The congregation sought permission to expand two buildings into a 20,000-square-foot complex with a mosque, gym and cemetery. The Lilburn City Council rejected this proposal in November 2009 and a scaled-down proposal in December 2010. After the U.S. Department of Justice threatened to sue Lilburn, alleging religious discrimination, the city approved a modified proposal in August 2011. (Source: Liu 2012) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Lilburn, GA Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright Approved Cemetery DOJ Expansion Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Mosque Planning and Zoning Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/c01946305b7c6b26a2d7cf7255a3bec0.jpg eb438edeb6f6620aa4adedeee24a37bc Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource Lopez and Associates (2013). Rendering of the proposed Islamic center in Lomita. [Online image]. Retrieved June 18, 2020 from https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/islamic-center-lawsuit-lomita-settled.html. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource California Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ca_05 Location The location of the interview Lomita, CA Date 2010-2013 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. The city of Lomita, California rejects a proposal by the Islamic Center of South Bay (ICSB) for an expansion of a new center on its property. The city states that the rejection is based on residents’ concerns over increased traffic and noise as well as the project’s size and fit with the neighborhood. Members of the ICSB allege anti-Islamic sentiment, and CAIR-LA files a federal lawsuit on behalf of ICSB against the city. The denial prompts a DOJ investigation and, eventually, a DOJ lawsuit under RLUIPA. Lomita and the DOJ settle the suit in 2013 along with a settlement in ICSB’s lawsuit, clearing the way for ICSB to bring a new, successful application to the city council. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 25816 Walnut St, Lomita, CA 90717 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. QMQQ+G8 Lomita, California Proposed Project Islamic center; mosque expansion Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://masjidalnoor.org/about/">Islamic Center of South Bay</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance administrative denial; public campaign; bias-related incident Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved (with restrictions; following lawsuit and settlement) Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. On June 8, 2009 an initial hearing was held before the City of Lomita Planning Commission for the proposed redevelopment of the Islamic Center of South Bay (ICSB). Initial specifications for the redevelopment included a proposed sanctuary consisting of 2,370 square feet, a proposed building area of 16,851 square feet, and a proposed 74 additional parking spaces. During the meeting, the architect for the project, Shakil Patel, addressed residents’ concerns about the project, including “the location and height of the mosque windows, the traffic and noise issues” and “the distance between the buildings” (Planning Commission Notes 6/8). After commissioners asked Mr. Patel questions about the project, Commissioner Dever suggested that the project be continued and that residents have an opportunity to voice their opinions about the project. Initial public reactions were not positive. Residents were primarily concerned over the additional noise and traffic that the project would create. On July 1 and August 12 of 2009, two community meetings were held so that the Islamic Center of South Bay could revise their initial project. These revisions were brought before the Planning Commission in a meeting on September 14, 2009. In this meeting, the Planning Commission voted 4-3 in favor of recommending the project for approval. Residents continued to express their concerns about the project leading up to the city council meeting. On March 2, 2010, after a five-hour hearing, the Lomita City Council unanimously voted to reject the proposed redevelopment. Some of the project’s supporters alleged that religion played an important role in the decision. City Councilman Tim King contended that the decision was based on the structure’s location and the coding changes that would have been required (KPCC, 2010). Importantly, the rejection of the redevelopment allowed for the Islamic Center of South Bay to come back with another plan (”Lomita Stops Mosque Expansion,” KPCC, 2010). On November 18, 2011, the United States Department of Justice announced that it had begun a formal civil rights investigation over the rejection of the proposed redevelopment. Officials stated that the investigation was triggered after DOJ officials had read reports of the mosque’s denial (Green, 2011). While the DOJ investigation was still ongoing, the Islamic Center of South Bay on March 21, 2012 filed a lawsuit against the City of Lomita, seeking “damages and reimbursement for costs incurred during a planning process that has lasted more than three years” (Flaccus, 2012). To date, we have been unable to find the original lawsuit filed. On January 11, 2013, it was announced that the City of Lomita had reached a conditional settlement with the Islamic Center of South Bay. “The agreement [allowed] the Islamic Center of South Bay to reapply to complete the expansions. It also [called] for the city to process the new application promptly and to waive application fees, with a caveat that if the new application is denied again, the lawsuit may resume” (“Islamic Center Reaches Settlement,” KPCC, 2013). On March 8, 2013, the DOJ filed a complaint and agreed order against Lomita, alleging that Lomita violated RLUIPA by creating a substantial burden for ICSB community members to practice their religion in their denial of the redevelopment. The agreed order affirmed the city’s settlement with the ICSB and mandated certain record-keeping and training requirements for city officials. On September 9, 2013, the Planning Commission discussed the ICSB’s new application. After a long public hearing, the Planning Commission voted 4-0 in favor of the redevelopment. On October 7, 2013, the City Council reviewed the new application, which contained changes such as a 7,000 square-foot increase in the site’s size after the purchase of a new lot and 20 more parking spaces (Green, 2013). The project was approved in the meeting by a unanimous vote. Construction was underway by 2014 and today the Islamic Center of South Bay’s redevelopment plans appear to have been completed and the site is operational. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. <ul><li>Green, Nick. (2012, March 22). Discrimination is alleged. Religion: Islamic Center says the City Council violated federal law in rejecting its renovation plans. Daily Breeze, p. 1A. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Green, Nick. (2011, November 9). Planning officials capture 2 seats. Daily Breeze, p. 4A. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Green Staff Writer, N. (2011, November 18). Mosque rejection spurs inquiry. Lomita: Feds ask city officials why expansion of Islamic Center was blocked. Daily Breeze, p. 3A. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Green, Nick. (2011, October 12). 3 running for 2 council seats. Lomita: A previous challenger faces pair from planning board. Daily Breeze, p. 3A. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Justice Department reaches agreement with Lomita, Calif., to protect religious exercise. (2013, February 1). Office of Public Affairs, Department of Justice. Retrieved from<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reaches-agreement-lomita-calif-protect-religious-exercise"> https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reaches-agreement-lomita-calif-protect-religious-exercise</a>. </li> </ul> Year Year the case began. 2010 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lomita, CA Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. CA_05, occurring in Lomita, CA, 90717 from 2010 to 2013 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Texas Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Longview, TX